Detained mental patients banned from smoking

[Hunain]

how about rationing them tobacco spits?

[iranu]

I see it that the state is forcing them to live somewhere therefore that is their abode. They should have the same rights that I enjoy in my own home. If that means they are only allowed to smoke in their own room or outside then fine but forcing someone not to smoke is the same thing as forcing someone not to drink orange juice. I don't care whether it's good or bad the state should not be forcing people to quit something that is perfectly legal activity. The health nazis are at it again

[Lucio]

Whilst I can appreciate that the staff do deserve the right to be protected against the dangers of second hand smoke, it's not helpful that the mentally ill aren't afforded the same rights as prisoners.

I've done a stint on a mental health unit when I was training to be a nurse, the unit stank of ciggarette smoke, and some of the patients ended up taking up smoking after being exposed to so many smokers.

A fair compromise would be to provide a quiet smoking room on the unit wherever possible (maybe a securely enclosed garden).

[Blitzen]

I can tell you on the basis of my attempts to cold-turkey that the "3 days" stuff is complete bull (or at least it was for me). And you REALLY don't need reminding that you want to smoke . I actually used the NHS Stop Smoking service, and that was helpful, but although they fund NRT, they will only fund one kind, and it's a one shot deal. In my case what actually worked was a combination of patches + inhalator (I actually bought both myself, although I could have claimed one or the other free). The delivery of ncotine is also completely different than cigarettes; there's no real immediacy so you don't get the instant relief of a cigarette. Now I actually wanted to quit, could afford the means to do so myself, and was not especially vulnerable. I had no pre-existing mental illness either. I fell off the wagon a couple of times and it was not easy.

Contrast that with someone who hasn't been given a choice about whether they're quitting, is being banged up very probably against their will in extremely stressful and unpleasant surroundings, is in a vulnerable and unbalanced state, can't leave, and is suddenly being told that one of the things that helps them cope with that is being taken away. It's going to make them feel a lot worse, it'll make them less likely to cooperate with their treatment, and may even make that treatment less likely to be successful. Balance that against the possibility of providing a few designated smoking areas, or letting people smoke in the grounds (or a combination of the above). Would the latter option really be that bad?

I cant see the argument for allowing smoking there??

At the end of the day its a working environment so smoking is....and rightly so, banned.
Regardless of whether these people are mentally ill or not isnt the point. The workers in the institution have a right to work in a smoke free workplace.

(and i am a smoker so i hope i never get carted off)

A fair compromise would be to provide a quiet smoking room on the unit wherever possible (maybe a securely enclosed garden).

The only feasable and fair answer.

[nichomach]

...The only feasable and fair answer.

And exactly the answer I suggested in my post which you apparently took such great exception to.

[Blitzen]

And exactly the answer I suggested in my post which you apparently took such great exception to.

Jeeesus!......you really do have problems dont you.
I didnt take exception to anything. I didnt agree completely with your opinion and i realise only too well that anyone else simply isnt allowed to disagree with you as you are always right!


I just got bored with your essay and CBA to read it all.